Logan Square sexual assault cases: New details emerge after Chicago man's arrest

‘Violent serial predator’: New details emerge after Chicago man's arrest

A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the sexual assault of five women over nearly three years.

CHICAGO - A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the sexual assault of five women over nearly three years in Chicago.

The alleged assaults took place on the city's North and Northwest Sides, according to Chicago police.

Multiple sexual assault cases

What we know:

Supt. Larry Snelling said Chakib Mansour Kodja, 36, was charged with 18 total crimes in connection with the alleged assaults that took place between May of 2022 and February of this year.

Kodja was arrested on Friday at O'Hare International Airport where he had just returned to Chicago after being out of town, police said.

He's facing three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse with a weapon, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with bodily harm, two counts of aggravated kidnapping while armed, aggravated criminal sexual abuse with bodily harm, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, attempted aggravated battery with strangulation, attempted kidnapping, attempted home invasion with a dangerous weapon, attempted home invasion causing injury, and misdemeanor public indecency.

The alleged assaults took place on the following dates and locations:

May 7, 2022 in the 2000 block of N. Humboldt Boulevard in Palmer Square involving a 36-year-old female victim
July 15, 2022 in the 800 block of W. Wellington in Lake View involving a 21-year-old female victim
Jan. 18, 2025 in the 2800 block of N. Bloomingdale Avenue in Logan Square involving a 36-year-old female victim
Jan. 22, 2025 in the 2800 block of N. Central Park Avenue in Logan Square involving a 21-year-old female victim
Feb. 2, 2025 in the 2600 block of N. Troy Street in Logan Square involving a 21-year-old female victim

The sexual assaults in Logan Square caused many residents to worry and put pressure on police to arrest the person responsible at a meeting with CPD officials earlier this year.

WARNING: THE INFORMATION BELOW CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS.

Proffer from May 7, 2022

What we know:

In the early morning hours of May 7, 2022, the victim returned to her apartment complex located in the 2000 block of North Humboldt. As she walked along the sidewalk and entered the building’s first-floor common area, she was allegedly attacked by Kodja who was lying in wait inside the building.

As the victim entered, Kodja allegedly pulled a black drawstring bag over her head, completely obstructing her vision. He then wrapped both hands around her neck and began to choke her, prosecutors said. The victim screamed and fought back, struggling with Kodja. During the struggle, he allegedly shoved her to the ground. After a brief altercation, Kodja released her and ran from the scene, prosecutors said.

The victim got up, removed the drawstring bag, and saw the back of the fleeing man. She immediately called 911. Responding officers recovered the black drawstring bag from the building’s foyer.

Though the victim was not able to identify the man who attacked her, the drawstring bag was submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for DNA testing. The DNA recovered from the bag matched DNA profiles associated with multiple ongoing sexual assault investigations.

On April 4, 2025, the defendant was arrested at O’Hare International Airport.

A search warrant was executed to obtain his buccal swab. That sample was submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, which confirmed that the DNA profile developed from the black drawstring bag matched the defendant’s DNA.

Proffer from July 15, 2022

What we know:

In the early morning hours of July 15, 2022, the victim left Joe’s on Weed Street.

After being unable to secure a rideshare, she began walking home alone. While walking, she noticed two men near a dark-colored sedan—one standing beside the vehicle and another seated in the driver’s seat. One of them offered her a ride home, and she accepted, entering the rear passenger seat and providing her address.

The victim fell asleep during the ride and woke up as the car was pulling over in an unfamiliar area. Both men exited the vehicle, leaving her alone in the backseat. A second vehicle then pulled up behind the sedan, and the victim overheard men speaking in a language she did not understand.

A man, later identified as Kodja, allegedly entered the car through the rear driver-side door and joined her in the backseat. She observed he had tan skin and dark hair. He began kissing her without consent and reached into her shirt, aggressively grabbing her breasts and causing pain, prosecutors said.

Kodja then allegedly exposed himself and forced the victim to perform oral sex by grabbing the back of her neck and pressing her face toward his groin. Despite her attempts to pull away, he continued to push her head toward his penis.

He then pulled down her pants and underwear, exited the car, and re-entered through the rear passenger door. He ordered the victim to get on her hands and knees in the backseat and proceeded to vaginally penetrate her. The victim reported that he scratched and cut her back during the assault. Once he stopped, he exited the vehicle and closed the door, prosecutors said.

The victim pulled up her clothing and vomited on herself. Shortly after, the other men returned to the front seats, and the car drove off with her still inside. A few blocks later, she was pushed out of the car from the rear driver-side door, prosecutors said.

The victim made her way home and told a friend what had happened. The friend called 911.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where a criminal sexual assault kit was administered. She was treated for scratches on her back and noted to have scant pooled blood in the vaginal vault.

DNA evidence recovered from the inside and outside of the victim’s mouth matched DNA found in other criminal sexual assault cases under investigation by the Chicago Police Department.

Surveillance footage from the area where the victim was pushed out of the car showed a dark-colored sedan stopping, the rear door opening, and the car driving away. The same footage captured a gold or beige Toyota Prius traveling behind the sedan and circling back approximately one minute later, prosecutors said.

Further investigation revealed Kodja was the registered owner of a 2010 gold Toyota Prius.

On April 4, 2025, Kodja was arrested at O’Hare International Airport.

A search warrant was executed to collect a buccal swab, which was submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.

The lab confirmed that the DNA profile from the victim’s sexual assault kit matched the defendant’s DNA.

Proffer from January 18, 2025

What we know:

On January 18, around 3:10 a.m., the victim, a 36-year-old woman, was walking home and stopped at a convenience store on Armitage Avenue.

After leaving the store, she walked south on Francisco Avenue and noticed a man dressed entirely in black following her. She confronted him and crossed the street in an effort to distance herself.

Shortly after, near 1756 N. Francisco Ave., the man, later identified as Kodja, allegedly grabbed her from behind and pushed her against a fence.

He then turned her around to face him, prosecutors said. Though the man was wearing a hood and a mask, the victim observed he had dark hair and brown or olive-toned skin. He was also wearing socks but no shoes.

Kodja allegedly displayed a knife at his side and held it to the victim’s side, directing her to walk with him down Francisco and then onto Bloomingdale. When they reached approximately 2862 W. Bloomingdale Ave., he pressed the knife against her neck and forced her to her knees on the sidewalk, prosecutors said.

While holding the knife at her throat, Kodja allegedly exposed himself and forced the victim to perform oral sex. She attempted to reach for her phone but dropped it. The man told her she "shouldn't have done that," then forced her to lie down. He attempted to remove her tights and underwear but was unsuccessful as the victim resisted, prosecutors said.

He then allegedly pulled her back to her knees and masturbated in front of her, ejaculating into her mouth and onto her face. Afterward, he put his hand in her mouth in what appeared to be an attempt to remove the semen before fleeing on foot.

The victim hid and texted a friend, who arrived at the scene and called 911. She was taken to the hospital, where a criminal sexual assault kit was completed.

Surveillance video from the convenience store confirmed the victim’s presence and showed a dark-colored Ford Fusion driving past as she stood outside. Investigators learned that the defendant lived with the registered owner of a vehicle matching that description.

DNA recovered from the victim’s mouth matched DNA from other ongoing criminal sexual assault investigations being conducted by the Chicago Police Department.

On April 4, 2025, Kodja was arrested at O’Hare International Airport. A search warrant was executed to obtain a buccal swab from the defendant. The sample was sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for analysis, which confirmed that the DNA profile matched the DNA recovered from the victim’s sexual assault kit.

Proffer from February 2, 2025

What we know:

The incident occurred in the early morning hours, when the victim, a 21-year-old woman, returned to her apartment in the 2600 block of North Troy Street, a multi-unit building with a front entrance leading to a shared foyer.

After entering the foyer, she realized she had left her keys in the front door. When she turned to retrieve them, an unknown man was standing in the doorway.

The man, later identified as Kodja, allegedly pushed her against the door, pulled out a knife, and pressed it to her throat. He ordered her to remove her jacket. When she tried to hand him her purse, he told her to drop it, prosecutors said.

The man wore a mask, but the victim noted he had dark eyes, tan skin, and spoke with an accent. He briefly pulled down his mask and kissed her, prosecutors said.

Still holding the knife to her throat, he reached under her skirt and underwear and penetrated her with his fingers. The victim attempted to alert her roommate, but Kodja allegedly pressed the knife more firmly against her throat and ordered her to stay quiet.

Kodja then allegedly pulled down his pants, exposing himself. He then allegedly put his penis in the victim's hand and ordered her to put it in her mouth.

When the victim didn't immediately comply, Kodja allegedly pressed the knife harder into her throat, at which time he forced himself inside her mouth.

After about a minute, Kodja stepped back, allowing the victim to stand, prosecutors said. He then allegedly lifted her skirt and used the knife to cut her tights. Holding the knife to her throat again, he allegedly ordered her to get on her hands and knees.

The victim complied, positioned on the ground with her lower body exposed. While she was in that position, the man masturbated in front of her.

She reported seeing him ejaculate before he pulled up his pants and left the building.

The victim began calling out for her roommate and knocking on their apartment door. Her roommate found her on the floor in the foyer and called 911. The victim was taken to the hospital, where a criminal sexual assault kit was completed.

She suffered

The victim sustained lacerations to her throat and vaginal area. DNA collected from the victim’s hand matched DNA evidence from other criminal sexual assault cases under investigation by the Chicago Police Department.

Roughly 14 minutes after the assault, a license plate reader captured a Ford Fusion with Illinois plates traveling northbound on Kimball Avenue, about 1.5 miles from the scene.

Investigators traced the vehicle to a registered owner who lived with Kodja.

On April 4, Kodja was taken into custody at O’Hare International Airport. Detectives executed a search warrant to collect a buccal swab from him, which was submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for testing.

Results from the lab confirmed that DNA from the victim’s sexual assault kit matched the DNA profile obtained from the defendant’s swab.

What they're saying:

Investigators said DNA evidence and surveillance footage were key in building the case. The department's robbery team traced a car that ultimately led them to Kodja.

"These women survived something that was horrible and terrible and it's something that they will continue to live with throughout the rest of their days," said Snelling during Monday's press conference. "Although the offender is in custody, we know there is still a long road for the women as these cases are prosecuted. We stand with these survivors and all survivors of sexual violence and sexual assault."

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said the suspect "was a violent serial predator who literally went out hunting for his victims. It was only through the dogged police work. They didn't give up. They kept investigating for three years, and they found him."

What you can do:

Investigators did not rule out whether other victims might still be identified by police.

Anyone who believes they were a victim is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department or call a rape crisis hotline at 1-888-293-8020.

What's next:

Kodja was expected to appear in court for a detention hearing on Monday.

Watch the full police press conference here: